Frozen novelty container

ABSTRACT

Frozen novelty containers are provided. An all paper-based commercial frozen novelty container is provided having a volume between two and six gallons. A cardboard sidewall is formed into a cylinder having the volume. A cardboard bottom is sealed to one opening of the sidewall. The second opening forms a top of the container that can be opened and closed via a cardboard lid.

BACKGROUND

Packaging of Bulk ice cream and frozen novelties (e.g., ice cream,frozen yogurt, sherbet, etc.) has largely consisted of creatingcylindrical tubs (containers) for which ice cream is filled. Thecontainers are used to transport and dispense ice cream or frozennovelties to consumers. Retail or consumer-based containers differ fromone another in terms of their respective volumes. That is, a retail icecream or frozen novelty container typically holds one pint to ½ gallonof ice cream or frozen novelty. Conversely, a commercial bulk ice creamor frozen novelty container holds one and half gallons of product ormore.

Because commercial bulk ice cream or frozen novelty containers have tosupport a much larger volume of product than do retail or consumer-basedcontainers, the commercial containers have heretofore been at leastpartially constructed with metal, plastic, and/or derivatives thereof.Moreover, materials are often used with the construction of ice cream orfrozen novelty containers to prevent the containers from rupturing dueto exposures to extreme temperatures and due to exposure to liquids(frozen product that has melted).

Metal support mechanisms can create health hazards because employeesdispensing the product can cut their hands against the metal ring andspill blood into the product. Moreover, the frozen product cannot bepassed through metal detectors when a metal ring exists in thecontainers. So, foreign objects that are inadvertently present in thefrozen product cannot be readily detected. With plastic support, themain disadvantage is expense associated with adding different materialsto the containers and with adding manufacturing complexity to theconstruction of the containers.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, frozen novelty containers are provided. Moreparticularly and in an embodiment, an all paper-based commercial frozennovelty container is provided. The container includes a cylindricalsidewall made of paper-based product and having a volume of greater thanor equal to two gallons. The container also includes a paper-basedbottom sealed to a bottom of the sidewall. A top portion of the sidewallcurls over to form a top of the sidewall, and the container is adaptedto house frozen novelties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a container, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of another container, according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of showing a bottom sealed to an outside of asidewall of the container, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sidewall used to form the container,according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the sidewall sealed to form a cylinderhaving a volume between 2 and 6 gallons, according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a top portion of the sidewall curled to anoutside of the sidewall to form a ridge, according to an exampleembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a container 100, according to an exampleembodiment. The container 100 is made of all paper-based material, suchas but not limited to cardboard. It is also noted that the container isused for housing and dispensing frozen novelty product and includes avolume between 2 and 6 gallons.

There are many advantages to an all paper-based frozen noveltycontainer. First it is safer because there is no metal, which means thecontainer and its contents can be x-rayed (pass through metal detectors)and which means employees dispensing the frozen novelty product (icecream, frozen yogurt, and the like) encounter no risk associated withcutting their hands against the sides of the container. Environmentally,the container is also more sustainable resulting in less waste and lessmaterials to make the container. Additionally, disposal is easier as thecontainer can be crushed and takes up less space when disposed of. It isalso very cost effective because there is no secondary labor requiredfor integrating disparate materials (plastic and/or metal) as a singleproduct (cardboard) is used to construct the entire container.

The container 100 includes a paper-based cylindrical sidewall 101 and apaper-based bottom 102. In an embodiment, the container 100 alsoincludes a paper-based lid 107. Each of these components will now bediscussed in turn.

The paper-based cylindrical sidewall 101 has a volume that is greaterthan or equal to two or more gallons. In a particular embodiment, thevolume of the cylindrical sidewall 101 is 6 gallons.

The paper-based bottom 102 is sealed to a bottom 103 of the sidewall101. Any technique can be used to seal the paper-based bottom 102 to thebottom 103 of the sidewall 101, such as heat sealing, gluing, etc.

A top portion 104 of the sidewall 101 is curled over 105 to form a top106 of the sidewall 101. That is, excess cardboard or paper-basedmaterial associated with the top 106 of the sidewall 101 is curled over105 to an outside 108B of the sidewall 101. Example detail of this curlcan be seen in FIG. 6 discussed below.

Curling the top portion 104 of the sidewall 101 to the outside 108Bprovides a variety of structural and safety benefits to the container100. Frozen novelty is placed in the container 100 when it is in asemi-liquid form when it is frozen it expands, this is especially soduring transportation to higher altitude geographic locations. When theproduct expands it forces the lid 107 up off the container 100. Bycurling the top portion 104 of the sidewall 101 to the outside 108B alocking mechanism is created for the lid 107 to ensure that the lid 107does not pop off the container 100 during transit or while in storage.

Additionally, curling the top portion 104 of the sidewall 101 to theoutside 108B provides stability to the container 100 during storage in afreezer. Still further, the curling to the outside 108B provides aninside 108A smooth surface for employees of enterprises to dispense theproduct. That means that there is no risk of an employee scrapinghis/her hand against any protruding material on the inside 108A and thatthere is no risk of material from fraying or coming loose andcontaminating the product in the container 100. So, the individualdispensing the product from the container 100 can use the entire inside108A of the container 100 as a smooth surface for using a scooper toleverage the product out of the container 100. Thus, curling thesidewall 101 to the outside 108B of the container 100 has a variety ofstructural and safety benefits.

According to an embodiment, the paper-based bottom 102 is sealed to anoutside 108B of the sidewall 101. Example detail of this sealing isshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In another configuration, the paper-based bottom 102 is sealed to aninside 108A of the sidewall 101. This creates a recess 109 as shown inFIG. 1.

The remaining figures discuss various arrangements of the container andcomponent pieces in varying degrees of detail. The container andcomponents are all made from paper-based material and are adapted tohold frozen novelty product having a volume of 2 to 6 gallons.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of another container 200, according to an exampleembodiment. The container 200 includes a variety of components, each ofwhich are constructed of cardboard or paper-based material. Thecontainer 200 is adapted to house frozen novelty product having a volumeof between 2 and 6 gallons.

The container 200 includes a cardboard sidewall 201, a cardboard bottom202, and a cardboard lid 204. Each of these components of the container200 will now be discussed in turn.

The cardboard sidewall 201 forms a cylinder having a volume that isgreater than or equal to 2 gallons.

The cardboard bottom 202 is affixed to a bottom 203 of the sidewall 201.As shown in FIG. 2 and again in FIG. 3 (discussed below), the cardboardbottom 202 is sealed to an outside 208 of the sidewall 201, such thatthe cardboard bottom 202 is flush with the bottom 203. In an alternativearrangement, as shown in FIG. 1, the cardboard bottom 202 is affixed tothe bottom 203 along an inside 207 of the sidewall 201 and forms arecess, such as the recess 109 shown in FIG. 1.

The cardboard lid 204 is adapted to fit over a top 205 of the sidewall201. The top 205 is where frozen novelty product is filled into thecontainer 200 and where it is subsequently dispensed from the container200. The cardboard lid 204 can be repeatedly removed from the top 205 toreseal the product housed in the container 200.

According to an embodiment, the sidewall 201 is curled over at the top205 to form a ridge 206. This added sidewall that overlaps at the top305 provides upward structural support to the container 200. The curlcan occur to the inside 207 of the sidewall 201 or to the outside 208 ofthe sidewall 201.

In an embodiment, the container 200 has a volume of 6 gallons and holdsfrozen novelty product having a volume of 6 gallons or less.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of showing a bottom sealed to an outside of asidewall of the container, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the details of how a cardboard bottom is folded over anoutside of a sidewall for purposes of adhering a cardboard bottom to thesidewall and form the container. This fold can also occur to the insideof the sidewall and can form a recess, such as recess 109 shown inFIG. 1. The diagram shows how the cardboard bottom is flush with abottom of the sidewall when it is sealed to the outside of the sidewall.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sidewall used to form the container,according to an example embodiment. The sidewall is shown as sheets ofcardboard. The sidewall may also be a single first sheet of cardboard,such as what is shown in FIG. 5.

The detail in FIG. 5 shows how the first sheet of cardboard for thesidewall is wrapped around to form a cylinder and sealed to either theoutside or inside of the sidewall.

A second sheet of cardboard can be used to form the bottom, such as 102of FIG. 1 and 202 of FIG. 2. The second sheet of cardboard is sealed tothe outside of the sidewall, such that it is flush with a bottom of thesidewall as shown in FIG. 3 or is sealed to the inside of the sidewallas shown in FIG. 1 such that a recess 109 is formed.

A third sheet of cardboard can be used to form the lid, such as what isshown as 107 of FIG. 1 and 204 of FIG. 4. The lid is adapted to beremoved from and placed over the top opening of the sidewall. So, thefirst sheet of cardboard is formed as a cylinder having a volume ofbetween 2 and 6 gallons, that cylinder initially includes two openings.The first opening is closed via the second sheet of cardboard or thecardboard bottom that is sealed to either the outside or inside of thesidewall cylinder. The second opening is the top where frozen noveltyproduct is filled in the container and where the third sheet ofcardboard identified as a lid is used to open and close the containerand gain access to the frozen novelty product.

The sidewall along the top portion of the cylinder is folded or curledover to form a ridge as shown in FIG. 6. The curl can occur to theinside or outside of the sidewall.

It is now appreciated how a new and novel container that is madeentirely of cardboard or a paper-based product can be constructed forhousing and dispensing frozen novelty product. This improves labor andcost efficiency, improves safety and improves environmental disposalover what has been done in the past.

The above description is illustrative, and not restrictive. Many otherembodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe above description. The scope of embodiments should therefore bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and willallow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of thetechnical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that itwill not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims.

In the foregoing description of the embodiments, various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting that the claimed embodiments have more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Description of the Embodiments, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate exemplary embodiment.

1. A frozen novelty container, comprising: a cylindrical sidewall madeof paper-based product and having a volume of greater than or equal totwo gallons; and a paper-based bottom sealed to a bottom of thesidewall; wherein a top portion of the sidewall curls over to form a topof the sidewall, and the container is adapted to house frozen novelties.2. The container of claim 1 further comprising, a paper-based lid thatis adapted to fit over the top and adapted to be removed.
 3. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the paper-based bottom is sealed to anoutside of the sidewall.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein thepaper-based bottom is sealed to an inside of the sidewall.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 4, wherein the paper-based bottom is recessed fromthe bottom of the sidewall.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the topportion curls to an outside of the sidewall.
 7. The container of claim6, wherein the top portion curled to the outside provides a lockingfeature for a paper-based lid that is adapted to cover the top.
 8. Afrozen novelty container, comprising: a cardboard sidewall forming acylinder having a volume greater than or equal to two gallons; acardboard bottom affixed to a bottom of the sidewall; and a cardboardlid that is adapted to fit over a top of the sidewall and be removedfrom the top.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the sidewall isfolded over the top to form a ridge along the top of the sidewall. 10.The container of claim 8, wherein the sidewall is folded in at the topto form a ridge along the top of the sidewall.
 11. The container ofclaim 8, wherein the cardboard bottom is sealed on an inside of thebottom of the sidewall and is recessed from the bottom of the sidewall.12. The container of claim 8, wherein the cardboard bottom is sealed onan outside of the bottom of the sidewall and is flush with the bottom ofthe sidewall.
 13. The container of claim 8, wherein the volume of thecylinder is 6 gallons.
 14. The container of claim 8, wherein thecontainer is filled with frozen novelty product.
 15. A container,comprising: a first sheet of cardboard adapted to have a first endsealed to a second end to form a cylindrical sidewall having a volume ofbetween 2 gallons and 6 gallons; a second sheet of cardboard adapted tobe sealed to one opening of the cylindrical sidewall to form a cardboardbottom; and a third sheet of cardboard adapted to be removed from andplaced over to cover a second opening of the cylindrical sidewall toform a removable cardboard lid.
 16. The container of claim 15, whereincardboard bottom is sealed along an inside of the cylindrical sidewalland is recessed from the one opening.
 17. The container of claim 15,wherein the cardboard bottom is curled over an outside of thecylindrical sidewall and sealed on the outside.
 18. The container ofclaim 15, wherein the cylindrical sidewall is folded over to an insideof the second opening along a top of the cylindrical sidewall.
 19. Thecontainer of claim 18, wherein the cylindrical sidewall is folded overto an outside of the second opening along a top of the cylindricalsidewall.
 20. The container of claim 15, wherein container is filledwith frozen novelty product.